The Sechelt Library Board has announced the appointment of a new chief librarian, effective July 18.
Shelley Archibald was hired for the position after a nationwide search, board chair Ann Hopkins said in a release issued Wednesday.
Archibald was community and programming librarian at the Burlington Public Library in Ontario. She holds a Master of Information from the University of Toronto, a Master of Religion and Culture from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of New Brunswick. A frequent speaker at library conferences, she is also a co-founder of the Librarians as Thought Leaders conference and former host of a New Brunswick provincial interview television show.
“Archibald’s experience is community centred and her customer service driven philosophy combines with strong leadership skills,” the release said. “A lifelong believer in the transformative power of libraries, Archibald has taken on various roles in the library profession including responsibility for curriculum development for information literacy at Burlington Public Library and initiating and leading the creation of their first Makerspace.
“Her last post was the formation of a Personal Development and Wellness portfolio, where she managed community partnerships for the development of health, job search, financial, and environmental programming for Burlington.”
The release added that Archibald “is interested in the changing nature of privacy in a technological age as well as researching how libraries can help people achieve their personal potential.”
“The continued growth of Sechelt Library and the development of new community and technology programming over the past few years is exciting,” Archibald said in the release. “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to move forward with the Library’s continuing commitment to providing stellar services and programs.”
Archibald replaces Margaret Hodgins, who resigned after four years as chief librarian to relocate closer to her family in Ontario.
